Mahakala is a wrathful manifestation of Shiva Bhairava, taken up in an Esoteric Buddhist context as a fierce manifestation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara as guardian of the dharma (Buddhist law) and the sangha (community of monks and nuns). He is shown here enthroned on a lotus cushion—another supports his pendant foot—wielding a sword and trident and displaying a skull cup (kapala); his missing fourth hand likely held the flaying knife. He wears a skull diadem with radiating flames. A skull garland is slung around his waist, and snakes form his sacred cord and armbands. A kneeling couple, presumably the donors who commissioned the icon, make an offering below. A Sanskrit inscription in proto-Bengali script identifies them: it states, in part, “this is the pious gift of Dahapati.”

Inscription: Dr. B.N. Mukherjee identifies the inscription as being incorrect Sanskrit and in the proto-Bengali of Gaude script of the very late 12th or early 13th century. He provided the following transliteration and translation: 1. Deyadharmmoyah (should be deyadharmmoyam) danapati 2. Mumnala

Dr. S.P. Tewari identifies the language of the inscription as Sanskrit and the script as Nagari-Gaudiya of about the 12th century. His transliteration and translation are as follows: 1. Deya dharmmoyam Danapati 2. [Maha stambha rudrabhisekha] (reading is uncertain) This is the pious gift of Dahapati...